Department of Health and Social Care

Vertex

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he or a Minister of his Department has (a) met and (b) plans to meet representatives of Vertex Pharmaceuticals; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Lord O’Shaughnessy) met with representatives from Vertex in October 2017.The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and I wrote to Vertex in April following a Westminster Hall debate, to encourage the company to work with NHS England on a proposal that represents value to the National Health Service and the taxpayer.

Department for International Trade

Trade Promotion: Commonwealth

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses to trade with other Commonwealth countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Graham Stuart: It is important that we continue to look at reducing trade barriers bilaterally which will benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We are doing this through our current Working Groups with countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and India. Intra Commonwealth trade in goods and services is estimated to be $560bn and projected to reach $700bn by 2020.In addition, the Department participated actively throughout the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London where my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade announced policies to help boost intra-Commonwealth trade. This included the launch of the Commonwealth Standards Network to increase the use of international standards across the Commonwealth, which will support private and public-sector users of standards, including SMEs. A trade facilitation programme was also announced which provides technical assistance to selected countries in implementing the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Solar Power: Import Duties

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations the Government has made to the European Commission on the imposition of tariffs on the solar technology sector; and what the Government's policy is on that subject.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.